New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-19
OoLUMBLA's MODEL LIBRARY.
A SCHOOL FOR TRAINING LIBRARIANS.

THE FLATTERIyG OPINION OF FRENCH EXPERT
CHANGES IN THE ROOMS.
The library of Columbia College is modest and
anobtrusive institution when seen from without
among the cluster Of college buildings, but IT Is ias'
obtaining the envable reputation of being one OF the
most completely equipped libraries in this country.
In referring to 1t VI. Is. Buisson, who was recently
sent to this country an expert oy the french MIN
later Of Instruction. says IN his report .ns' '.o
Columbia College Library cannot be r2assed 10 It's
organization aud the facilities 1t affords tor work and
stndy He reaches the conclusion after visiting the
library OF Harvard aud those OF Oxford and Fam
bridge In England, and the Libraries OF several OF the
German universities; and he adds that to him 1t
realizes the ideal university library not as yet in
the number of its volumes, /" but In equipment and
organization and In character OF Its own thas de-
serves to be studied"
The library Is comparatively new tour years ago
tbs number OF its volumes was little more 'p"n
Is OOO Now they number nearly lOO,OOO, ana
under the direction of Mevil Dewey the library mas
made efectual strides. The trustees OF the college
have taken increased interest the library ADD the
alumni showing their recognition OF IL Inc CLASS
of 1872 Is about to place memorial window IN the east
end and the knowledge OF their intention has deter
mined other classes to follow the example, changes
are now being made by the direction OF the trustees 10
provide room for the increasing number OF books ana
last week an offer OF $1,000 made by one OF the
friends of the college for fitting up fifty desks for the
special use of the faculty and senior classes This
will be feature and will be Of especlai vaiue
TO those students who obliged to make constant
n 20 of the library While intended chiefly for the use
OF ths college its students faculty and alumni, the
library is to all who present letters of introduce
ton and it is consulted frequently by those who have
discovered it's worth is open daily except on Sun
days, from in the morning until 10 at night.
The library building Is in the east wing OF the col
1ege Ii is lighted all sides and the main hall Is
1I3 70 feet The ball is 5S feet high. giving room
for great number of shelves and one OF the additions
now being made is a new gallery by means OF which
l. al NAto pI Ia fhn Enh
and ventilation looked after but the chairs and tables
arc arranged with every attention 20 comfort and con-
venience. The furniture and woodwork ale OF OAK,
like that throughout the new college buildings Ihere
forty oak tables fitted with extension slides and
adjustable electric lamps, at which 16O persons can
sit comfortably There are also six small reading
rooms which will accommodate 100 readers. The
library Is lighted at night by 800 ncandescent electric
lamps. In addition to the catalogue about 10000
volumes are kept in bookcases open to the readers
without making application to the librarians The
books classified in shelves in eubJect-grouplng
and an exhaustive classification is beng made by
in w be-
Gether. glance at the index gives the number OF |
the subject and the catalogue cards and shelves are
arrapg ed in numerical order.
From the Columbia College Library under Mr.. |
Dewey has grown the Columbia College School of
Lbiary Economy. Its object is to provide by two
years course thorough aud systematic training tor
librarians. 1t s the first and is yet tue only school
OF this character that has been organized and thus
school established by the college trustees in 1884
il was to be conducted under the direction OF the
chief Librarian but it not opened until last jan.
nary There twenty students besides the
Columbia staff seventeen of whom are women. They
come from ALI parts of the United States and one Is
from England Three hours are given daily to direct
instruction in the old library OF the college, aud
lectures deli, cred every afternoon. Mr.. Dewey
oDeued The lecture course on Library Economy,
George ii. Baker began course on Bbliography,"
and Mr.. Bisooe Catalogues and Classihcations."
Regular lectures have also been given on Saturdays
en- subjects ang these studies and it is intended
to include in the course lectures oy the best librarians
in the country. Among those that have been given
are Literary Property from the Publishers Point of
View" BY George Haven Putnam" A Course OF Read
Ing" oy Professor X. c. Davis. librarian OF the Uni
Versity of Michgan Methods of Studying Ltera-
ture." by Professor G. A. Scribner of Columbia Col
lege; Bookbuyng and Book binding" and WI hat to
Read and When to Read. and How TO Read" by
A. r. Spotord. librarian OF Congress In the 1000
libraries now in the United States Mr.. Dewey
Inmates the number OF assistants needed will he
doubled within ten years. For the training of IL
)rarisns these duties, and especially DIT women, he
anticipates result that will be OF great benefit to
readers all over the country and will the sooner de-
veop the library of the future